Professor Palermo joined the Technical University of Nova Scotia, now merged with Dalhousie University, in 1986 as the Head of the Urban and Rural Planning program. He is the School of Planning’s resident urban designer, and lead researcher on several First Nations community planning projects in the Cities and Environment Unit.

His research has taken him to many countries, including Italy, China, Brazil and Holland. His work on the First Nations Community Planning Model has won several awards, including the Canadian Institute of Planners Award of Excellence in 2001, and the Dubai International Award for Best Practices for Improving the Living Environment in 2004.

Professor Palermo is actively engaged in community service work. Among his other interventions, he has served as a member of the National Capital Commission, and of the Halifax Planning Advisory Committee. He has served on awards juries for the Canadian Institute of Planners, the Halifax Urban Design awards, and the Canada Council Architecture Awards.

Selected Publications from the Cities and Environment Unit:

Ideas for Developing a Community Planning Curriculum for First Nations (2002)

Metepenagiag Mi’Kmaq Nation Community Plan (2002)

Abegweit First Nation Community Plan (2002)

Bear River Resource Project (2000)

First Nations Community Planning Model (2000)

Revised 15 March 2006